Length Converter
Convert between meters, feet, inches, miles, and more.
Conversion sheet
DIY at your own risk. Calcora's calculators and guides are general estimates and information only — not professional, engineering, legal, or safety advice. Always verify local building codes and permit requirements, and hire a licensed pro for electrical, gas, plumbing, structural, or any work you're not fully comfortable doing yourself.
Length is where the metric and imperial worlds collide most often — a recipe in centimeters, a TV measured in inches, a road race in kilometers, a backyard in feet. This converter holds every common length unit against a single base so the answer is exact rather than a rounded rule of thumb.
How it works
Every length is converted to meters internally, then to your target unit.
Internally every value is converted to meters first, then out to your target unit. That two-step approach is why a feet-to-inches or miles-to-yards conversion is just as precise as a metric one — there is no special-case rounding hiding in the middle.
The factors used are the exact international definitions, not approximations: one inch is exactly 0.0254 m, one foot is 0.3048 m, and one mile is 1609.344 m. So 1 inch always equals exactly 2.54 cm and 1 mile always equals exactly 1.609344 km.
Result = (value × meters-per-source-unit) ÷ meters-per-target-unit.
Worked examples
Convert 10 feet to meters. → 3.048 meters
10 × 0.3048 m per foot = 3.048 m exactly.
Convert 5 miles to kilometers. → 8.04672 kilometers
5 × 1609.344 m = 8046.72 m, divided by 1000 m per km = 8.04672 km.
Tips & gotchas
- For a quick mental estimate, 1 meter is a bit over 3 feet and 1 mile is about 1.6 km — useful when a precise tool isn't in front of you.
- Watch the difference between 'feet' as a length and 'square feet' as an area. Doubling a length does not double an area; use the Area Converter for floor space.
- Inches to centimeters is the one factor worth memorizing: exactly 2.54. It anchors most imperial-to-metric work in construction and crafts.
- When matching a part spec, convert and then check tolerance — 'about 25 mm' and '1 inch' (25.4 mm) are close but not identical, which matters for press fits.
FAQ
Is a US mile the same as a nautical mile?
No. This converter uses the statute (land) mile of 1609.344 m. A nautical mile is 1852 m, roughly 15% longer, and is used for sea and air navigation.
Why is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm and not a rounded value?
Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 0.0254 meters by international agreement, which makes 2.54 cm the exact, not approximate, equivalent.
How many feet are in a meter?
About 3.281 feet. One meter equals 1 ÷ 0.3048 = 3.28084 feet, so a 2-meter doorway is roughly 6 feet 7 inches.
Related calculators
Weight Converter · Temperature Converter · Volume Converter · Speed Converter · Area Converter